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Perhaps this could be included in the existing tent vs. tarp thread but I didn't want to hijack.

I'm curious about bivy sacks for winter use. there are a few that I'm looking at but would like some suggestions on features/benefits to look for since I've always been a tent guy. Are they good for a solo winter trip as a planned place to sleep or just good in emergancy? If it helps with respect to what winter weather/climate i'll be encountering, I plan to use it in the interiror of British Columbia and Western Alberta.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I've used bivy sacks for sleeping out in the open in snow at lower elevations (6-8k) and in snow caves up to 12k. Never used them with a tarp (such as to cover a trench or 1/2 cave style) but have used them with a tarp in a-frame config. In nearly all configs, it seems that moisture being trapped from the inside is more a risk than moisture entering from outside. I had a heavier gore-tex top / PU bottom Moonstone bivy for sleeping out in the open, and I nearly always got wet on the sides where the PU worked its way to the top of the bag and blocked evaporation.
More recently I've been using a Montbell Breeze Dry Tec:
http://www.gearzone.com/ProductDetails. ... click=5096
and it's been perfect for snow caves, tents, and 'mids. Moisture stayed out, very breathable. 11 days in a down bag above 10k no problems. My preference is to carry a ultralight sil mid for 3-4 people as a cover for the cooking area that can double as a fast set-up emergency shelter in a pinch, but to primarily sleep in snow caves with highly breathable (Dry Tec, Epic, eVent) bivys.

Exactly the type of info I was after. thanks a lot B-box

You got the right guy (Breadbox) to reply shift!

My $.02 (which is probably worth less than that!):

Tent, in fast pitch (mine is about 1.5 lbs in that setup) only if I KNOW it's going to be bad weather..Bivy only otherwise. Tarp configurations, as much as I admire the guys who can assemble a tarp securely in a hurricane, are not ideal for full on snow winter use. A mid, or fast pitch tent, with a highly breathable, merely water repellant (as opposed to H20 proof) bivy is a pretty bomber setup that will get you through anything.

If you want a one tool fits all shelter, I'd recommend a bivy with an E Vent top. It's just as H20 Proof as Gore, but breathes far far better.